The October 6 Assembly bypolls in West Bengal are set to provide an early test of the political relationship between the Congress and the faction of the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee.
The contests in Nandigram and Rejinagar are taking place in different political circumstances. In Nandigram, Banerjee’s faction has withdrawn its candidate and announced support for Congress nominee Milan Pradhan. In Rejinagar, however, the two parties are contesting separately.
The contrasting arrangements have put the spotlight on whether cooperation between the two parties can develop at the constituency level or whether both will continue rebuilding their organisations independently.
Nandigram Becomes a Test of Tactical Cooperation
Nandigram holds particular significance for Mamata Banerjee. She lost the seat to Suvendu Adhikari in the 2021 Assembly election after the constituency had played an important role in the political movement that preceded the TMC’s rise to power.
For the upcoming bypoll, Banerjee’s faction withdrew its candidate and extended support to Congress’s Milan Pradhan. Banerjee said the move was intended to strengthen the INDIA bloc.
The arrangement means the Nandigram contest will provide an opportunity to observe whether supporters of the Mamata faction transfer their electoral support to a Congress candidate.
Rejinagar Offers a Different Test
The situation is different in Rejinagar, where Congress and Banerjee’s faction are fighting separately.
The contest could provide both parties with an opportunity to assess their organisational strength without relying on each other’s support. For Congress, the election is a test of whether it can maintain and potentially expand its independent base. For Banerjee’s faction, the contest comes amid a dispute over the TMC’s name and election symbol and the broader reorganisation of the party.
The Election Commission has allotted different names and symbols to rival factions claiming the TMC identity. The dispute over the party’s name, symbol and organisational control is also before the Supreme Court, which has directed the Election Commission to resolve the matter within three months.
Congress Faces Internal Debate Over TMC Cooperation
The possibility of closer cooperation with the TMC has generated differing views within the Congress.
Some Congress leaders have argued that tactical cooperation could help consolidate votes in constituencies where the two parties have overlapping support bases. Others have maintained that Congress should rebuild its own organisation in West Bengal rather than depend on an alliance with the TMC.
The debate is shaped partly by the history of relations between the two parties. According to the PTI report, around 56 Congress MLAs were absorbed by the TMC during its 15-year period in power, weakening the Congress organisation in the state.
Mamata Faction Faces Organisational Challenge
For Banerjee’s faction, the bypolls come at a time of significant organisational change following the division within the TMC and the BJP’s victory in the May Assembly elections.
The faction faces the task of retaining its support base while operating under a new political identity and symbol. The results in Rejinagar could provide information about the faction’s ability to mobilise supporters independently, while the Nandigram arrangement could offer insight into the scope for constituency-specific cooperation with Congress.
The two contests consequently present different political circumstances for Banerjee’s faction.
Earlier Congress-TMC Cooperation
The relationship between Congress and Mamata Banerjee has changed significantly over the years. Banerjee began her political career in Congress before leaving the party and establishing the Trinamool Congress.
The two parties later joined hands in West Bengal, most notably ahead of the 2011 Assembly election, when the Left Front’s 34-year rule came to an end. Their relationship subsequently became competitive again, although both have remained part of the broader INDIA bloc at the national level.
The current bypoll arrangements therefore represent another stage in a relationship that has alternated between cooperation and electoral competition.
Results Could Shape Future Discussions
The Nandigram and Rejinagar results will not by themselves determine the future relationship between Congress and Banerjee’s faction. However, the contrasting contests could provide both parties with electoral information about voter transfer, organisational strength and the practical scope of cooperation.
A political analyst cited by PTI said the results would not establish causality but could influence internal discussions within both parties.
With the Opposition space in West Bengal undergoing changes, the October 6 bypolls are therefore being closely watched for what they reveal about the evolving relationship between Congress and Mamata Banerjee’s faction.